The issue of pollution due to bauxite mining should be viewed more seriously compared to the sale and use of electronic cigarettes or vape, says Perlis Mufti Assoc. Prof Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

He said the issue of bauxite pollution was far more dangerous than the sale and use of vape.

"Is it reasonable that Islam only bans vape, but remains silent on an issue which is much bigger and dangerous?

"Wouldn't it be good if the issue of bauxite mining was given more attention than the vaping issue," he said in a post on his Facebook page Thursday.

He also expressed his dismay that religious scholars seemed to overlook bauxite mining activities which had become a threat to human beings, nature, plants and animals.